Hechi innovates to inherit bronze drum culture

Since the establishment of the Bronze Drum Culture (Hechi) Ecological Conservation Experimental Zone in 2012, Hechi has been exploring the protection and inheritance of bronze drum culture.

With a history of over 2,000 years, the bronze drum has become a unique cultural symbol in Guangxi through its colorful folk activities.

In recent years, Hechi has combined bronze drum culture with tourism and poverty alleviation. This not only enriches the tourism experience but also brings benefits to the local residents.

At the Geyasigu Chinese Baiku Yao Ecological Folk Park in Nandan county, visitors can not only learn about the history, craftsmanship, and playing techniques of the bronze drum, but also experience a variety of folk activities such as bronze drum dancing, spinning tops, and weaving ethnic costumes.

Nandan county is the home of the Chinese Baiku Yao ethnic group. In 2017, Nandan implemented the poverty alleviation and relocation tourism development project, investing 1.37 billion yuan (187 million) to build 2,471 resettlement houses and helping 13,500 impoverished people move out of mountainous areas.

Utilizing the Baiku Yao folk culture, Nandan has built handicraft workshops such as bronze drum workshops, spinning top workshops, dyeing workshops, embroidery workshops, and exhibition centers for intangible cultural heritage. They have also developed characteristic bronze drum cultural and creative products, such as bronze drum crafts and clothing with bronze drum patterns, thus enhancing the added value of local specialty products.

People of the Baiku Yao ethnic group play bronze drums. [Photo/Hechi Daily]